17 minute read
A CENTURY OF PROGRESS
SOFT HULLS TO HARD BOTTOM RIBS
THIRTY or so years ago, if you lived in New Zealand and wanted an inflatable tender, you had to source one from overseas or purchase a cast-off from a visiting yachtsman. Like Hoover is to the vacuum cleaner and Xerox is to the copier, Zodiac was coined as the generic name for inflatable boats. And rightly so, as it was Zodiac that was the first to successfully establish a recreational RIB market. The modern inflatable represents one of the world’s oldest boat-building technologies. The sight of bloated animal carcasses floating past in the flood season may have been what inspired some unrecorded scientific genius to invent an alternative technology. Inflatables began as inflated animal hides proofed with tallow and sealed with tar or bitumen. The Phoenicians first left shore aboard them, and in 880 BC, an Assyrian army mass-produced inflatables to cross a river. But after reaching a development peak some 2,500 years ago, the technology became arrested due to a lack of alternative materials. It wasn’t until the 19th century that the development of rubber coatings that made fabric waterproof offered a breakthrough. In 1846 a British expedition to the Arctic was accompanied by circular inflatable boats made by Macintosh, the firm founded by the inventor of the raincoat. Subsequent designs cropped up from time to time but were never developed until 1913. Albert Meyer in Germany developed a ‘pneumatic’ boat that was later used in small numbers by the German army and marketed commercially.
It’s more than 100 years since the first ‘pneumatic’ boat was launched in Germany. Practical and versatile, the inflatable was one of the twentieth century’s most significant small boat developments. While the earliest boats were soft bottom, with the advent of the rigid hull, the inflatable boat market took off.
Smuggler Marine are one of the market leaders in centre console and cabin RIBs
FROM LIGHTER-THAN-AIR TO LIGHTER-THAN-WATER
In 1896 in Paris an aeronaut called Maurice Mallet with two partners founded the Société Mallet, Mélandri et de Pitray, a venture to design and build airships. The company name is hardly one to resonate in the memory, which is why, when it began to manufacture the world’s first sporting and tourist balloons, the decision was made to market them under a somewhat catchier trade name, registered in 1909: Zodiac. Zodiac is a significant name in the history of aviation and was very involved with the development of balloons and powered dirigibles, and made a name for itself producing small collapsible airships for private use. It also constructed France’s first rigid airship, the Spiess, which presented a grand spectacle with its 110-metre length and 12,000 cubic metre volume but didn’t go down well with the public because it looked too much like a Zeppelin. During World War I, it built observation balloons, antisubmarine airships, and aircraft. Peace brought a downturn in orders, and Zodiac returned to basics, making nothing but sports balloons and airships for the French navy. Pierre Debroutelle was an engineer, aviator and aeronaut who had been with Zodiac designing airships and biplanes since 1909. But he was also a keen duck hunter, and legend claims it was this that inspired him in 1934 to utilise his expertise in the use of airtight cloth and glueing techniques to design a two-person inflatable kayak. It consisted of two rubbercoated buoyancy tubes set parallel and joined by a layer of fabric on which sat the crew. He followed it in 1936 with a 3.6m catamaran of the same design, which sported a sail and central drop keel. The French navy followed the development of these prototypes with interest, and in 1937 asked Zodiac to solve a problem it had ferrying bombs and torpedoes out to its seaplanes. Debroutelle responded by mounting a pair of 4.5-metre floats at the edges of a wooden deck and joining them with a transom; et voilà!, Zodiac had its first orders for inflatable boats.
Then in 1940, Debroutelle launched his ‘A-type’ inflatable. A lateral float connected its parallel floats at the bow to form a ‘U’, while the transom was used to mount a 9-hp outboard motor. The modern inflatable was born. Zodiac fell on hard times during World War II when the German army took over its premises, and production limited to barrage balloons and rubber clothing. Debroutelle continued experimenting in secret, but while Zodiac had inadvertently pioneered the modern inflatable, it remained known as a balloon manufacturer until after the war. On the other hand, several companies were already established as inflatable manufacturers during the 1930s. Chemists made another significant contribution. Early inflatables used a cotton fabric base with a rubber coating, which deteriorated rapidly and wasn’t fuel resistant. But in 1931, Du Pont began marketing a new synthetic rubber under the brand name Neoprene, which with a nylon base offered both tear-resistance and durability. Neoprene remains in use to this day. The affluent 1950s saw the rise of the ‘leisure society. For the first time, ordinary people had the time and money for recreation. Land-lubbers were going to sea in droves, which created a need for robust easy-to-handle boats. By 1965 Zodiac was exporting a third of its production, and RFD in Britain had become the first of many companies to manufacture Zodiacs under licence. Technical factors limited neoprene coatings to a colour range of black or grey, but the introduction of Hypalon enabled inflatables to be colour coordinated with the “psychedelic sixties”, giving them an irresistible social allure.
Picton based Naiad have been building RIBs since the early 1980s.
THE RIB ARRIVES
MEANWHILE, the inflatable’s reputation as a ‘serious’ boat was enhanced in 1962 when the RNLI purchased Zodiac models built by RFD for sea rescue. Inflatables made superb lifeboats with their stability, buoyancy and ability to bump against other craft without damage. But they had a significant disadvantage: they were almost unmanageable at fast speeds in heavy seas. The problem caught the attention of Rear Admiral D. J. Hoare, headmaster of Atlantic College, a British equivalent of the Outward Bound school. In 1963 he glued the tubes of an inflatable to a flat piece of ply with a small central fin. With a 20-hp motor, it promptly won a prize in a local powerboat race in weather so atrocious that conventional speedboats were breaking up or flooding. The RIB (Rigid Inflatable Boat) had arrived. With its seat-of-the-pants pioneering period over, the past 60 years have seen the perfecting of inflatable technology.
Manufacturers of Infatable boats from 2.1m to 6.0m. Quality Repairs – Retubing – Custom Builds.
1487A State Highway 17, Dairy Flat, Auckland. Ph: 021 570 505 | e: info@seafarerinflatables.co.nz | www.seafarerinflatables.co.nz
The Rayglass 410 is one of the bigger cabin RIBS on the market.
Southern Pacific have recently entered the jet RIB tender market with the Prodigy 490.
The Kiwi built Buccaneer Enforcer is one of the new breed of console RIBs.
Sealegs 6.1 RIB was the world’s first amphibious RIB.
AB
Alumina 9.5 ALX 2.90m 1.68m Alloy Console Alumina 10 ALX 3.19m 1.68m Alloy Console Mares 10 VSX 3.19m 1.72m GRP Console Nautilus 11 DLX 3.35m 1.82m GRP Console Oceanus 11 VST 3.35m 1.73m GRP Console Mares 11 VSX 3.45m 1.77m GRP Console Alumina 11 ALX 3.50m 1.70m Alloy Console Nautilus 12 DLX 3.66m 1.82m GRP Console Oceanus 12 VST 3.66m 1.86m GRP Console Mares 12 VSX 3.66m 1.82m GRP Console Alumina 12 ALX 3.66m 1.85m Alloy Console Oceanus 13 VST 3.96m 1.93m GRP Console Nautilus 13 DLX 3.96m 1.95m GRP Console Alumina 13 ALX 3.96m 2.00m Alloy Console Oceanus 14 VST 4.27m 1.96m GRP Console Nautilus 14 DLX 4.27m 1.98m GRP Console Alumina 14 ALX 4.27m 2.00m Alloy Console Alumina 15 ALX 4.57m 2.06m Alloy Console Nautilus 15 DLX 4.57m 2.05m GRP Console Oceanus 15 VST 4.57m 1.99m GRP Console Alumina 16 ALX 4.88m 2.14m Alloy Console Oceanus 17 VST 5.18m 2.46m GRP Console Nautilus 17 DLX 5.18m 2.46m GRP Console Alumina 18 ALX 5.49m 2.40m Alloy Console Nautilus 19 DLX 5.79m 2.54m GRP Console Oceanus 19 VST 5.79m 2.53m GRP Console Oceanus 21 VST 6.50m 2.70m GRP Console Oceanus 24 VST 7.31m 2.82m GRP Console Oceanus 28 VST 8.33m 3.07m GRP Console
AMF
580 QRV 5.80m 2.70m Alloy Centre Console 750 QRV 7.50m 3.00m Alloy Cabin 900 QRV 9.00m 2.85m Alloy Cabin 950 QRV 9.50m 3.10m Alloy Cabin 1050 QRV 10.50m 3.85m Alloy Cabin 1050 QRV CC 10.50m 3.85m Alloy Centre Console 1170 QRV 11.70m 4.25m Alloy Cabin
ASSAULT
9 Pursuit 9.00m 2.92m GRP Cabin 11 Pursuit 10.80m 3.25m GRP Cabin
BUCCANEER
550 Enforcer 5.50m 2.50m GRP Console 630 Enforcer 6.39m 2.70m GRP Console
BRIG
Falcon Tender 300 2.90m 1.64m GRP Console Falcon Tender 330 3.30m 1.64m GRP Console Eagle 3.5 3.50m 1.78m GRP Console Falcon Tender 360 3.60m 1.75m GRP Console Falcon Tender 380 3.80m 1.90m GRP Console Eagle 4 4.00m 1.95m GRP Console Falcon Rider 400 3.93m 1.93m GRP Console Falcon Tender 420 4.20m 1.90m GRP Console Falcon Rider 450 4.45m 1.95m GRP Console Falcon Tender 480 4.90m 2.15m GRP Console Navigator 485 4.85m 2.30m GRP Console Falcon Rider 500 5.00m 2.15m GRP Console Eagle 5 4.95m 2.30m GRP Console Navigator 520 5.20m 2.30m GRP Console Navigator 570 5.70m 2.30m GRP Console Falcon Rider 570 5.70m 2.30m GRP Console Eagle 6 5.95m 2.40m GRP Console Navigator 610 6.10m 2.30m GRP Console Eagle 6.7 6.70m 2.55m GRP Console Navigator 700 6.99m 2.80m GRP Console Navigator 730 7.30m 2.80m GRP Console Eagle 8 7.98m 2.90m GRP Console Eagle 10 9.95m 3.40m GRP Mid Cabin
EXPLORER
Lamont T320 Jet Tender 3.20m 1.73m GRP Console Lamont T340 Jet Tender 3.40m 1.73m GRP Console Lamont T380 Jet Tender 3.80m 1.98m GRP Console Lamont S380 Jet Sport 3.80m 1.98m GRP Console Viking 380 3.80m 1.98m GRP Console
Lamont S420 Jet Sport 4.20m 1.98m GRP Console Lamont T430 Jet Tender 4.30m 1.98m GRP Console Viking 410 4.10m 1.98m GRP Console Viking 430 4.30m 1.98m GRP Console Skipjack 430 4.40m 2.25m Alloy Console Skipjack 450 4.50m 2.25m Alloy Console Skipjack 490 4.90m 2.25m Alloy Console Gulf Cruiser 510 5.10m 2.45m GRP Console Gulf Cruiser 530 5.30m 2.45m GRP Console Gulf Cruiser 550 5.50m 2.45m GRP Console Bluewater 610 6.10m 2.57m GRP Console Bluewater 650 6.50m 2.57m GRP Console Bluewater 710 7.10m 2.80m GRP Console Bluewater 750 7.50m 2.80m GRP Console Bluewater 780 7.80m 2.80m GRP Console
FI GLASS
Invincible 560 5.60m 2.30m GRP Console
GEMINI
Waverider 730 7.30m 2.76m GRP Console Waverider 850 8.50m 2.76m GRP Console Waverider 1050 10.50m 2.92m GRP Console Stormrider Cabin 10.50m 2.92m GRP Cabin
HIGHFIELD
Sport 300 3.00m 1.83m Alloy Console Classic 310 FCT 3.10m 1.70m Alloy Console Sport 330 3.35m 1.83m Alloy Console Classic 340 FCT 3.40m 1.70m Alloy Console Sport 360 3.62m 1.84m Alloy Console Classic 360 FCT 3.60m 1.70m Alloy Console Classic 380 FCT 3.80m 1.70m Alloy Console Sport 390 3.90m 1.83m Alloy Console Classic 420 4.21m 2.11m Alloy Console Sport 420 / Patrol 4.24m 2.05m Alloy Console Classic 460 4.59m 2.11m Alloy Console Sport 460 / Patrol 4.60m 2.09m Alloy Console Patrol 500 5.00m 2.28m Alloy Console Sport 520 5.23m 2.46m Alloy Console Patrol 540 5.40m 2.48m Alloy Console Sport 560 5.66m 2.50m Alloy Console Patrol 600 6.16m 2.48m Alloy Console Sport 650 6.35m 2.54m Alloy Console Patrol 660 6.60m 2.59m Alloy Console Sport 700 6.95m 2.54m Alloy Console Patrol 760 7.63m 2.90m Alloy Console Sport 800 8.11m 2.94m Alloy Console Patrol 860 8.60m 3.10m Alloy Console
JP RIBS
Project K 6.4m 6.40m GRP Console Project D Dive 6.50m GRP Console Custom 700 Dive 7.00m 2.75m GRP Console Custom 800 Cabin 8.00m 2.90m GRP Mid Cabin Custom 800 8.00m 2.90m GRP Console Project K 9.1 Cabin 9.10m 3.57m GRP Cabin Project K 10m 10.25m 3.40m GRP Mid Cabin Project K 12m 11.50m 3.80m GRP Mid Cabin
KING WATERCRAFT
Jet 3.2 3.20m 1.80m Alloy Console Jet 3.6 3.60m 1.80m Alloy Console
Outboard 3.6 Bay Runner 3.60m 1.80m Alloy Console Jet 4.0 4.00m 2.10m Alloy Console
Outboard 4.0 Weekender 4.00m 1.80m Alloy Console Outboard 4.3 Cruiser 4.30m 1.80m Alloy Console Jet 4.4 4.40m 2.10m Alloy Console Jet 4.8 4.80m 2.10m Alloy Console Outboard 4.8 Legacy 4.80m 2.20m Alloy Console Outboard 5.2 5.20m 2.20m Alloy Console
PROTECTOR
250 Chase 7.50m 2.86m GRP Console/Cabin 310 Chase / Targa 9.00m 2.86m GRP Console/Cabin 330 Chase / Targa 10.50m 2.86m GRP Console/Cabin 380 Chase / Targa 11.50m 3.60m GRP Console/Cabin 410 Chase / Targa 12.50m 3.90m GRP Console/Cabin
CATALYST
Catalyst 45 Powercat14.00m 4.80m GRP Cabin
SEALEGS
6.1M Sport RIB 4.91m 2.46m Alloy Console 7.1M Sport RIB 5.93m 2.71m Alloy Console 7.5M Amphibious RIB 6.29m 2.71m Alloy Console 7.5M Semi Cab RIB 6.29m 2.71m Alloy Semi Cab 9.0M Hydrasol RIB 7.90m 3.13m Alloy Console 12M Cabin RIB 11.70m 3.63m Alloy Cabin
NOTE: All boats are amphibious. LOA is with wheels down apart from the 12M Cabin which is wheels up
SEAFARER
SF 430R 4.30m 1.92m Alloy Console SF 450R 4.50m 2.28m Alloy Console SF 550R 5.50m 2.44m Alloy Console SF 600R 6.00m 2.36m Alloy Console
SMUGGLER
Strata 490 4.90m 2.40m GRP Console Strata 520 5.20 m 2.40m GRP Console Strata 550 5.50m 2.40m GRP Console Strata 580 5.80m 2.40m GRP Console Strata 600 5.90m 2.48m GRP Console Strata 620 Amphibious 6.20m 2.70m GRP Console Strata 630 6.20m 2.48m GRP Console Strata 660 Amphibious 6.50m 2.70m GRP Console Strata 700 Amphibious 7.00m 2.70m GRP Console Smuggler 700/740 Tender 7m / 7.4m 2.57m GRP Console Strata 750 7.50m 2.80m GRP Console/Mid Cabin Strata 780 Supersport 7.50m 2.80m GRP Bowrider Strata 800 Amphibious 8.00m 2.80m GRP Console/Mid Cabin Strata 820 Cabin 8.20m 2.80m GRP Cabin Strata 9m/10m/11m 9/10/11m 3.30m GRP Console/Cabin
Strata 1000 Amphibious 10.00m 3.30m GRP Console
NOTE: Some models are also available as Strata Tenders, and powered by inboard engines.
SOUTHERN PACIFIC
Cormorant 390 3.90m 1.85m Alloy Console Cormorant 430 4.30m 1.85m Alloy Console Cormorant 470 4.70m 1.85m Alloy Console Prodigy 490 Jet 4.90m GRP Console Cormorant 500 5.00m 2.30m Alloy Console Cormorant 550 5.50m 2.30m Alloy Console Cormorant 600 6.00m 2.30m Alloy Console PerformR 6.00m 2.18m GRP Console
ZODIAC
eJet 450 4.50m 2.00m GRP Console Medline 500 5.00m 2.24m GRP Console Medline 580 5.80m 2.54m GRP Console N-Z0 680 6.80m 2.54m GRP Console Medline 6.8 6.88m 2.54m GRP Console N-Z0 70 Cabin 6.99m 2.40m GRP Cabin Medline 7.5 7.34m 2.90m GRP Console N-Z0 760 7.60m 3.04m GRP Console Medline 9 8.90m 3.06m GRP Mid Cabin
Sealegs 7.5 Hydrasol is one of the world's biggest amphibious boatbuilder's latest models.
The Bluewater 610 is one of the latest RIBs from Explorer Boats.
THE NEW ARRIVALS
THE late 1970s saw a transatlantic gold rush as European inflatable manufacturers, particularly, and during the 1990s, the market went from strength to strength. Europe remained dominant in the industry, due mainly to Zodiac and its subsidiaries such as Avon. The first known Kiwi inflatable was launched by Chris Marks in 1971 when he set up Lancer Industries. Lancer was purchased a few years ago by Sea Legs and are now essentially tube manufacturers. Naiad came along in the early 1980s and today are still very strong, especially in the commercial sector. With the recent sale of Naiad to an Australian company, most of the custom manufacturing is now done in Australia. Rayglass, with its Protector range, has dominated the America’s Cup and yachting scene as well as Coast Guard rescue boats for many years and are one of the world leaders in cabin style RIBs. Smuggler Marine is fast gaining an international reputation for its luxury RIB tenders and, more recently, their range of amphibious RIBs. Their Strata range comprises close to 20 models from 4.9m to 11m in both the ‘wheelie’ and ‘nonwheelie’ version.
In a few short years, Brig has carved out an enviable reputation and is now one of the biggest selling brands if RIBs in Australasia.
8.5M ALLOY CABIN 8.5M ALLOY CABIN THE WORLD’S LARGEST RANGE OF AMPHIBIOUS BOATS BOOK A TEST DRIVE AT YOUR PLACE - 0800 SEALEGS THE WORLD’S LARGEST RANGE OF AMPHIBIOUS BOATS BOOK A TEST DRIVE AT YOUR PLACE - 0800 SEALEGS8.5M ALLOY CABIN THE WORLD’S LARGEST RANGE OF AMPHIBIOUS BOATS BOOK A TEST DRIVE AT YOUR PLACE - 0800 SEALEGS
7.1M ALLOY 7.1M ALLOY
7.5M AMPHIBIOUS RIB 7.5M AMPHIBIOUS RIB THE WORLD’S LARGEST RANGE OF AMPHIBIOUS BOATSTHE WORLD’S LARGEST RANGE OF AMPHIBIOUS BOATS 7.1M ALLOY 7.5M AMPHIBIOUS RIB THE WORLD’S LARGEST RANGE OF AMPHIBIOUS BOATS
3.8M TENDER 6.1M ALLOY 6.1M RIB 7.1M RIB 7.5M RIB
7.5M SEMI-CAB 7.5M SEMI-CAB 7.5M SEMI-CAB
8.5M CABIN 8.5M CABIN 9M RIB 9M RIB 12M CABIN 12M CABIN
Seafarer’s 4.3 centre console is one of a number in their range.
CHANGING MARKET
THE market has changed massively over the past few years, and today there are hundreds of models from dozens of brands that you can buy in New Zealand or Australia. New Zealand has developed a solid core of specialist builders of centre console and cabin RIBs. Smuggler, Southern Pacific, Explorer, Seafarer, Assault, Protector, and JP RIBS are just a few leading brands catering for the console and cabin RIB markets. International brands as Brig, AB, Gemini, Highfield and Zodiac, are well established in the local market and compete favourably against locally built brands. The market has also changed from the very basic RIBs used as workboats and the small open tenders for larger cruisers and yachts to some very sophisticated and interesting craft. Rayglass has established an enviable reputation with its Protector range of cabin boats. Rayglass, with its Protector range, has dominated the America’s Cup and yachting scene as well as Coast Guard rescue boats for many years and are one of the world leaders in cabin style RIBs. While the vast majority of RIBs are console or open, there is a growing number of cabin boats entering the market. Cabin models are also available from Kiwi brands, Smuggler, Assault, JP RIBS and Sea Legs. JP RIBS have taken bespoke RIB design and manufacture to a whole new level, with some exceptional custom models. When talking about RIBS, you have to include Sea Legs, a company that has revolutionised how we launch and retrieve our boats. Sea Legs have built over 1500 amphibious boats and exported them throughout the world. The only other local amphibious RIB built is Smuggler, who use the Orion system. Jet powered tenders are one of the new trends, with speciality companies such as Williams catering for the big boat market but with no representation in New Zealand, the way has been left open for local RIB builders to enter the market. We have recently seen the emergence of console jetboat RIB tenders from Smuggler, Lamont (previously Explorer) and more recently, Southern Pacific.
Highfield are one of the world’s largest RIB manufacturers.
MATERIAL CHANGES
A significant component of an inflatable is the fabric. Hulls will be either GRP or alloy. Fabric technology has significantly evolved in recent years and now includes plastomers, polyurethanes and other materials, which can sometimes be more robust, lighter, thinner and less expensive to assemble. Fabrics used for a small tender don’t need to be the same as those for a large RIB because the intended use is not the same. Most fabrics consist of a strong, close-weave mesh of polyester or nylon material that is sandwiched between two coatings to provide extreme flexibility, superior air and water tightness, as well as resistance to abrasion and the sun’s UV rays. Inflatable boats have come a long way in the last 100 years, and technological development is destined to continue as designers and builders learn more about materials, construction and design.
